Police to get more power to fight illicit sex trade

By Farrah Tomazin

October 9, 2011 — 12.00am

THE police will get more authority to swoop on illegal brothels as Premier Ted Baillieu comes under growing pressure to crack down on Melbourne's booming sex trade.

The government is drafting laws to make Victoria Police the lead agency to weed out unlicensed brothels, in a bid to stop dodgy operators and crime syndicates from exploiting the state's weak regulations.

The government is moving to increase police powers in a bid to stamp out illegal brothels.

But the Coalition says the legislation will not be introduced until later this year - with no certainty as to when it will pass.

''It seems as though the crooks are going to be given further free rein, allowed to operate their illegal brothels without fear of prosecution for some time to come,'' said William Albon, a spokesman for the Australian Adult Entertainment Industry, whose members are owners of lawful brothels and escort agencies.

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About 400 illegal brothels are believed to be operating in Victoria, in what legitimate businesses describe as a growing crisis that authorities have been too slow to address. Consumer Affairs Victoria and the police have set up a high-level taskforce - involving local councils, the Australian Federal Police, the federal Department of Immigration, and the Australian Taxation Office - in an attempt to streamline the ad-hoc, multi-tiered way in which the industry is regulated.

Consumer Affairs Minister Michael O'Brien's spokesman said that the ''taskforce has commenced operation and is working on ways to enhance the sharing of information and intelligence to assist in the identification, arrest and prosecution of illegal brothel operators in Victoria and offer appropriate help to sex workers''.

Government figures confirm that while authorities have conducted dozens of inspections of alleged illegal brothels in recent years, there have been comparatively few closures or successful prosecutions. Fifty-four alleged unlicensed brothels have been inspected or put under surveillance by Consumer Affairs Victoria since July this year - a significant increase compared with 41 attendances in the 2010-11 financial year and nine in 2009-10.

Mr Albon said illegal brothels posed serious risks, including abuse of women, tax avoidance, illegal immigration, and health risks for the general community (some workers are required to have unprotected sex). But the state government, local councils, and police merely handballed responsibility from one agency to the next.

Mr O'Brien's spokesman said the government was working on fixing the problem.

''The Victorian Coalition government is committed to making Victoria Police the lead agency for enforcing sex work industry laws,'' he said. ''Preparatory work is currently under way, and the Coalition government will introduce legislation to this effect later this year. Consumer Affairs Victoria currently has transitional operational arrangements in place with Victoria Police until the legislation is passed and comes into effect.''

He said the police were in the early stages of developing a Victoria Sex Industry Strategic Management Group, in conjunction with Consumer Affairs Victoria and the Australian Federal Police. ''When established the unit will ensure a consistent and co-ordinated approach in support of the existing enforcement areas,'' said Assistant Commissioner Crisp.

''We will always act on reports of under-age workers or other illegal activities and will continue to target those responsible for providing this unlicensed sex work and continue to conduct investigations into illegal brothels.''